eHymns.org

Born: March 31, 1732, Rohrau, Austria

Died: May 31, 1809, Vienna

In the mid-1780’s, Haydn received the commission to compose the Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross; for the incorrigibly cheerful Haydn, writing seven successive dour movements was a particularly difficult undertaking, but the effort resulted in one of his most-admired works.

Haydn’s professional success was not matched in his personal life. His marriage to Maria Anna Keller in 1760 produced neither a pleasant, peaceful home nor any children. Haydn’s wife did not understand music and showed no interest in her husband’s work. Her disdain went to the extremes of using his manuscripts for pastry pan linings or curl papers.

In June 1792 Haydn left London for Germany. On his journey he stopped at Bonn, where the 22-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven was introduced to him, and it was arranged that the tempestuous young composer should move to Vienna to receive Haydn’s instruction. In a letter of 1793 to Beethoven’s patron, the elector of Cologne, Haydn stated that "Beethoven will one day be considered one of Europe’s greatest composers, and I shall be proud to be called his teacher."

Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Haydn